The European Parliament endorsed a new EU energy efficiency directive that includes measures such as renovating public buildings, energy-saving schemes for utilities, and energy audits for all large firms. Furthermore, energy companies covered by the directive will have to achieve a "cumulative end-use energy savings target" by 2020.

The European Parliament approved in plenary session a new directive on energy efficiency that requires member states to renovate 3% of the total floor area of heated and/or cooled buildings owned and occupied by their central government (administrative departments whose responsibilities cover the entire territory of a member state). This measure will apply to buildings with a "total useful floor area" of more than 500 m², and as from July 2015, of more than 250 m². However, member states will also be able to use alternative means to achieve equivalent energy savings.

The new directive will also require to all large enterprises to undergo an energy audit. These audits will need to start within three years of the directive's entry into force and should be carried out every four years by qualified and accredited experts. Small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs) will be excluded from this obligation; however, energy companies covered by the directive will have to achieve a "cumulative end-use energy savings target" by 2020. This target will have to be at least equivalent to achieving new savings, each year, from 2014 to 2020, of 1.5% of annual energy sales to final customers, by volume, and averaged over the most recent three-year period before the directive takes effect.

Cutting energy consumption by 20% could save the EU €50 billion per year, as it was proposed in an Action Plan by the European Commission in November 2011. For this reason, special provisions for establishing financing facilities for energy efficiency measures will be included in the directive. Member states would have to facilitate the establishment of these facilities or the use of existing ones.